Telephone metering system.



A." E. LUNDE L L. r TELEPHONE METERING SYSTEM APPLICATION FILED 1AN.H. |9 l6.

1,243,314. I I Patented ,Oc t. 16, 1917.

-5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

//7 van/0r. A/en E. Luhc/e/A VE. LUNDELL. TELEPHONE METERING SYSTEM. APPLICAHON FILED JANA-M i916.

Patented Oct. 16,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A. E. LuNpELL. TELEPHONE METERINGSYSTEM. 1 APPLICATION-flu!) JAN. :4. INS. 1,243,314. 7 Patented 0ct'.16,l'.)17.

fnvenfor: A/ben E. L unde/l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBEN E. LUNDELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK. N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE METERING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917..

Application filed January 14, 1916. Serial No. 72,146.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBEN E. LUNDELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Metering Systems, of which the following is a full,

, clear. concise, and exact description.

-' cuits of the group, irrespective of whether such calling line is a direct or a regular subscribers line, or is a private branch exchange line. I

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision in an automatic or semiautomatic telephone system of means such that when a non-register station, as, for 1nstance, the information operator at the exchange, is called, the message register will not be operated.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for controlling the operation of the coin-collect device which, 1f desired, may be associated with lines supplied with message reg sters and means for controll'ng said coin-collect device to refund the coin deposited upon a non-completed call or upon a call to a non-register or non-pay station. as before referred to.

In the drawings. Figures 1, 2 and 3; in order. with Fig. 1 at the left, show a portion of the circuits and diagrammaticall indicate the apparatus employed in establishing a connection in an automatic telephone exchange. The devices shown in Figs. 4-, 5 and time the message register or coin collect controlling apparatus which is common to the cord circuits. These three figures represent modifications of the message register cont-rolling device, and may be interchangeably placed above Fig. 2.

The message register, shown associated with the upper line in Fig. 1, may be of any desiredcharacter, the only requisite being that its operating magnet has a low re sistance winding and a high resistance winding connected in the circuit ina manner similar to that shown in the drawing.

The coin-collect device, shown associated with the substation at the right in Fig. 1, maybe of any desired character, the'only requisite being that it is provided with a polarized operating magnet and has contacts so arranged that it is necessary to deposit a coin therein in order to cause the operation of the line relay.

The line-finding switch may be of anv suitable character and as it forms no part of the present invention it is only diagrammatically indicated in the drawing. If desired. the line-finding apparatus may be of 'the character disclosed in applicants copending applications, Serial No. 16,357, filed March 23,1915, and Serial No. 15,437, filed March 19, 1915. r

The switches, indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, may be of a character similar to that shown in Patent 1,123,696.

The sequence switch, of which the contacts and operating means are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2. may be of the type shown in Patent 1,127,808.

The power means or driving device of the rotary switching apparatus, shown in Figs. 4:. and 6, may be of the same character as the driving means for the sequence switch of said patent, and. if desired, sequence switch structures may be substituted for the switching devices shown in these figures.

It is believed that this invention is of such a character as to be readily understood from a description of the operation of the toll devices under various circumstances without further detailed description of the apparatus employed. We will now assume that the subscriber shown at the left in Fig. 1 has established a. connection through the line switch 1, the selector switches 2, 3. and 4: and the connector switch 5, to the subscriber shown in the upper right corner of Fig. 3, these switches being operated in any known desired manner. In the present embodiment of the invention, at the time the talking connection is established the sequence switch 6 (Fig. 2) will be in a position 13, and will remain in this position until the calling With the sequence switch in position 13, a circuit will be completed rom battery through the supervisory or cord relay 7,

through the switches and trunks to the called subscribers line, over the lower side of said line, through the substation apparatus thereat, back over the upper side of said line, through the upper brushes of the switches and back to battery through sequence switch contact 9. Relay 7 will be energized and complete a circuit for relay 10, which in attracting its right armature,

' completes a holding circuit for itself through sequence switch contact 11. The attraction of the inner right armature of relay 10 connects sequence switch contact 12 to ground.

Upon the termination of the conversation, when the calling subscriber places his receiver on the hook, the supervisory relay 1.3,

which is in the calling subscribers battery supply circuit and therefore'energized, will be deenergized, opening the circuit for relay 1 1, which in retracting its armature, coinpletes a circuit from battery through the motor magnet of sequence switch 6, sequence switch spring 15 and. its lower contact, and back contact and armature of relay 14 to ground. The sequence. switch motor magnet is energized and moves the sequence switch into position 14.

-We Will first consider'th-e operation with the controlling device shown in Fig. 41- associated with the connecting circuit of Fig. 2.

As both contacts of sequence switch spring 12 are now closed, a circuit is ompleted. from battery through relay 16, upper sequence switch contact 12 to the front contact and inner right armature of relay 10.

The mechanism shown. within the dotted rectangle in Fig. 4 is a message register con trolling device alloter, and, as will hereinafter appear, the brushes thereof, when at rest always test upon contacts associated with an idle controlling device. Oneof the controlling devices comprises the mechanism and circuits appearing above and at the left of said dotted rectangle. Each of the pairs of contacts of this allotter would represent the terminals of conductors extending to a similar controlling device.

Now upon the energization of relay 16, a circuit 'will be completed. from battery, through the motor magnet 17 of the idle preselected register controller cord. finder, to

the back contact and right armature oi-the marginal relay. 19, theouter brush of the allotter 2-0, the contact and armature of relay 16 to ground. The brushes of the cord finder 18 are thereupon rotated, and when they engage the contacts associated with the trunk through which the connect/ n w as established, a circuit will; be comple. d from battery through relay 19, the innermost 'brush of the cord finder 18, resistance 21,

lower sequence switch contact .12. andf the contact and. inner right armature .of-relay -10 to ground. 'Relay 19 is energized and opens the circuit for the motor magnet 17, thus stopping the cord finderin association with the desired trunk.

It may be here noted that if the calling line is a regular subscribers line, th... third conductor thereof will be connected .directly to ground through the cutoff relay 22 and the windings of the register operating magnet23 in parallel. However, if the calling line is a private branch exchange line, this third conductor will be similarly connected. to ground, but through a LS-Volt battery. This alternative arrangement is indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings by the broken connection of the two'leads, one extending directly to ground and the other through battery to ground.-

VVhen the cord. finder 18 stops on the cord. :1

circuit through which the connection is about to be disestabhshed, a plurality of circuits are completed as follows: first, from battery through the left armature and contact of relay 24 (Fig. 4), the left Winding of 5 marginal relay 25, the left or high resistance Winding of relay 26, outermost armature and contact of relay 27 the outermost brush of cord finder 18, sequence switch contact 28,

through the switch brush, over the conductor associated therewith to ground, through the cutoff relay 22 and winding of the magnet 23. We will first-assume that the calling line is a regular subscribers line .and that this circuit extends directly to ground through the magnets 22 and 2-3, in which case relay 26 will be ener ized, and by the attraction of its right armature will complete a low resistance shunt. through its low resistance right windingabout its high resistance left winding. This will permit an increasedflow of current through the windings of the reg:

ister magnet 23, causing it to attract it s armature and thus register a call; The attraction of the armature of the message register 'also operates to short-circuit the high resistance right winding of said magnet, thus causinga further increased flow of current over the circuit previously traced.

This will cause the energization of the mar;

ginal relay 25, which. in. attracting its armature, will complete a circuit from ground through its armature and Contact, the huddle brush of the cord finder 18, sequence switchcontact 28, through the down-driven1ctor magnet 29 of the selector switch shown at lihflflgllt in Fig. 2. to battery and ground. This will cause the-release of the selector switch 2 and its return to normal. in a maze ner such as disclosed in Patent 1,103,623. As the selector switch approaches ts normal position, the commutator brush 30 thereof engages the conductingsegment 31,

corn tiletinga circuit from ground through sequence switch contact 32 and the mot/in magnet of sequence switch. @3 to battery and ground; thus moving the sequence switch to finder to return to normal position. As the line finder approaches its normal position, the commutator brush 34 thereof engages the conducting segment 35, completing a circuit from ground through left sequence switch contact 32 and the motor magnet of sequence switch 6 to battery and ground, thus moving the sequence switch out of position 15 and to its normal or subnormal position, as desired.

At the time relay 27 operated in response to the operation of the stop relay 19, a circuitwas completed from battery through the left armature of relay. 24, the left winding of relay 25, the left winding of relay 26, both armatures of relay 27 and their contacts, the left winding of relay 24. the right winding of relay 25 and the left armature of relay 26 to ground. However, on account of the high resistance in this eircuit, relay 24 will not operate due to the current flow therein.

Assuming now that the calling line is a private branch exchange line, in which case battery will be connected between cutoff relay.22 and the register magnet 23 and ground, then a circuit will be completed from grounded battery through the wind ings ofthe cutofi' relay and magnet 23 in parallel, the line finder contact and brush,

circuit for relay 26 and at its right armature completes ashort circuit through its low resistance winding around the high resistance winding of this relay: thus so reducing the resistance of the circuit as to cause the operation of the register magnet 23. Magnet 23, in attracting its armature as before described, short-circuits its high resistance winding, causing an increased flow of current over the circuits to cause the operation of the marginal relay 25. which in attracting its armature causes the return to normal of the selector switch and the line-finder switch, in the manner previously described.

We will next consider the case in which the connection is extended to a non-pay station. such as shown at the lower right corner of Fig. 3. In this case, when the connection is completed,,the condenser 36 will be included in circuit with the cord relay 7, and the cord relay will therefore not operate. In the circuit as here shown, the talking current for the called subscriber is supplied through the impedance coil 37, contact and armature of relay 88, the substation talking set, over the upper side of the line and the upper conductor. of the several trunks to ground through the upper right winding of the induction coil. in the trunk circuit, Fig. 2. The circuit for the relay 38 extends from battery or ground, depending on whether the called station is a regular line or a private branch. exchange line, thence through cutofl relay relay 38, through the contact and sleeve brush of the connector switch, to grounded battery through sequence switch contact 40. As the battery counectedto the sequence switch contact 40 is of 24-volt po tential and the battery associated with the cutoff relay of the private branch exchange line is of 48-volt potential, relays 39 and 38 will be operated whether relay 39 is connected to the 48-volt private branch cxchange battery or to ground.

As the relay 7 didnot operate on a non" pay call, the circuit for relay 10 was not completed. and therefore ground is not connected to the sequence switch contact 12. Now whelrthe calling subscriber replaces his receiver on the hook, the sequence switch 6 moves to position 14 as before, but the register control device will not be actuated,

due to the non-operation of relay '10. As the sequence switch moves to position 1%. contact 28 is closed. completing a circuit from battery through the down-drive clutch magnet 29 of the selector switch 2. contact 28', outermost right armature and back contact of relay 10. and sequence switch. contact 11 to ground. This causes the return of the selector switch to normal. and the return of the finder switch occurs in the same manner as previously described.

, tjVe will next consider the coin-collect device shown in Fig. 1. This may be associated with a regular line or a private branch exchange line either of which may be provided with a message register or not. as desired. It will be noted that the circuit of the line relay 49 is controlled by the contacts bridged by the coin 47. the upper conductor of the subscribefs line being groundedthrough said contacts and coin instead of through contacts of the cutoff relay as at the subscribers line shown at the left in n cuit is completed from the positive pole of a connection extended to a non-pay station,

the battery through resistance 43, relay 44, front contact and left armature of relay 10, lower sequence switch contact 45, the right switch brush, the'upper talking conductor of the subscribers line, through the polarized magnet 46 of the coin-collect device, through the deposited coin 47 and the contacts engaged thereby to ground. This will cause the actuation of the coin-collect device in a well-known manner to cause the deposit of the coin.

Upon an unsuccessful connection, or upon as the one shown at the lower right corner of Fig. 3, relay 7 will not have been energized and, therefore, relay 10 will have remained deie'nergized. Now when the calling subscriber replaces the receiver upon the hook, a circuit will be completed from the negative pole of the battery through resistance 48, back contact and left armature of relay 10, sequence switch contact 45 to ground through the polarized magnet 46 of .lay 10 will have-been attracted, thus holding the return circuit for the selector switch 2 open; and in the case assumed, lnsulficient current will flow through the cutoff relay 49 to cause the actuation of the marginal relay 25. Thus the circuit for the return magnet of the selector switch 2 will not be closed at the armature and contact of relay 25 as was previously the case.- The relay 44 now being energized, will complete the circuit for the downedrive magnet 29 through its.

armature and contact, when the restoration. of the selector switch 2 and the finder switch 1 will occur inexactly the same manner as previously described.-

In the message register controlling structure shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of said controllers would be provided, the allotter 20 operating at all times when at rest to maintain an'operative circuit direct to an idle controlling device. Assuming now that the Brushes of the allotter 20 are on the contacts individual to an idle register controlling apparatus and that a successful call is disestablished. This will cause the en-- ergization of relay 16, which will complete circuit for the motor magnet 17 'of the cord finder 18, as before described. When the cord finder engages the contacts of the desired trunk circuit, relay 19 will be energized and a circuit will be completed from battery through the mbtor magnet of the al lotter 20, the inner brush of the allotter, the

front contact and right armature. of relay 19, the outer brush of the allotter, to ground through the armature of relay 16. This will cause the allotter to move from set to set of the contacts individual to the register controlling apparatus. The allotter 20 will continue to rotate until its brushes engage the contacts individual to an idle register controller. As the contacts of the second register 'controller may be engaged by the allotter, before the trunk sequence switch has moved out of position 14, a second cord finder, corresponding. to 18, may be started into operation, but on account of the marginal character of stop relays 19, the relay 19 of the second cord finder will not operate when the brushes of its cord finder 18 engage the contacts individual to the trunk through which the connection is being disestablished.

We will now describe the modifications of the register controlling apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing. Either of these may be substituted for the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, -Fig. 5 discloses merely a cord finder for asingle controlling apparatus. The lead extending from the upper contact of sequence switch spring 12, is carried directly to the right armature .of relay 19,'which corresponds in every .way to the relay 19 shown in'Fig. 4, except that it need not be. marginal. The rest of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 as being connected to-the two outer brushes of the cord finder 18, will be duplicated in Fig. 5 in connection withthe brushes of the cord finder 18".

- finder 18 to move from trunk to trunk until its brushes engage the' contacts individual to the trunk through which the call is being disestablished, when a circuit will becompleted for-relay 19'. Relay 19" in attracting its armature, will interrupt at its right armature the circuit for the motor magnet 17 and the operation of the left armature of relay 19 will cause the opera-. tion of the message register controller apparatus in exactly the same manner as described in connection with the mechanism iating an idle messageregi-ster controller I shown in Fig. 4. As the process of registerright armatures and contacts of the relays 19", is substituted for the allotter shown in Fig. 4. Each cord finder 18 of Fig. 6 will have associated therewith a register controlling mechanism exactly identical with that associated with the cord finder 18 of Fig. 4. The operation of the modification shown in Fig. 6 is as follows: When the cord finder sequence switch goes to position 14, a circuit will be completed from battery through the motor magnet 17" of the cord finder of the idle controlling mechanism, through the back contact and right armature of relay 19" associated therewith, the upper sequence switch contact 12, to ground through the front contact and inner rightarmature of relay 10. This will cause the operation of the cord finder 18 in a manner similar to that described in connection with cord finders l8 and 18. When the cord finder engages the contacts associated with the trunk, through which a connection is being disestablished, relay 19" will be operated and at its back contact will interrupt the circuit for the motor magnet 17", and at its front contact will extend the circuit to the next cord finder 18, the 'relay 19 of which is retracted, that is, to the cord finder of the next idle controlling mechanism. This second cord finder may also be started into operation, but as the relay 19 is made marginal, it will not attract its armature, and therefore the operation of the second cord finder will be without effect. I

It is obvious that many modifications may be made in the details of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is therefore understood that the scope of the invention is to be limited merely by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telephone system, a plurality oi subscribers lines, connecting circuits and switches for establishing a talking connection from one of said lines to another, toll a paratus associated with said lines respec tlvely, controlling means, for governmg the operation of said toll apparatus, and means for automatically associating sa1d governing means with any one of a group-of con necting circuits used in establlshing sa1d connection in order to govern the operation ofthe toll device of the calling subscriber.

2. In an automatic telephone system, subscribers lines, automatic switches and connecting circuits for establishing a talking connection from one of said lines to another,

toll'means associated with said lines respec'-' tively, a. plurality of controlling devlces, anyone of which may be employed to selectively control the operation of. said toll devices, and means for automatically associating an idle one of said controlling devices with a connecting circuit used in establishing said connection.

3. In a telephone exchange system, regw lar subscribers lines and private branch exchange lines, toll devices associated with each of said lines respectively, automatic switches for extending a talking connection from one of said lines to another. controlling means for selectively governing the operation of the toll device of calling lines irrespective of whether said lines are regular lines or private branch exchange lines, and means for automatically associating said controlling means with any one of a group of cord circuits used in establishing said connection.

4. In a telephone exchange system,. sub-- scribers lines, a message register associated with each of said lines respectively, automatic switches for extending a connection from one of said lines to another, a controlling device for determining the operation or non-operation of the message registcr of a calling line, and means for associating said controlling device with any one of a group of connecting circuits used in setting up said connection.

5. In a telephone system, a. plurality of subscribers lines, automatic switches for establishing a talking connection from one of said lines to another, toll apparatus associated with said lines respectively, controlling means for governing the operation or non-operation of said toll apparatus, and a connecting circuit finder switch for automatically associating said governing means withany one of a group of connecting circuits used in establishing said connection in order to govern the operation of the toll device of the calling" subscriber.

6. 'In an automatic telephone system, subscribers lines, automatic switches for establishing a talking connection from one of said lines to another, message registers asso- 'ciated with said lines respectively, av pluraling circuit finder switches for said controlling devices respeotively and means for automatically causing a finder switch to associate an idle one of, said controlling devices 7. In a telephone exchange system, regular subscribers lines and private branch exchange lines, message registers associated with said lines respectively, automatic switches for extending a talking connection from one of said lines to another, a plurality of controlling devices common to a group of connecting circuits which may be used in establishing a connection, and means'for with any one of, all group (if-connecting circults used 1n establishlng sa1d connection.

automatically associating an idle control- 13 line, and means responsive 'to the opening ofthe hookswitch of the calling subscriber for automatically associating said controlling device with any one of a group-of connecting circuits used in setting up said connection.

9. In atelephone system, a plurality of subscribers lines, automatic switches for establishing talking connections from one of i said lines to another, toll apparatus associated with said lines respectively, controlling means for governing the operation or non operation of said toll apparatus, a connecting circuit tinder switch, and means automatically actuated incident to the opening of the hookswitch of the calling subscriber,

for causing said finder switch to associate said governing means with a connecting circuit used in'establishing said connection in order to govern the operation of the toll device of the calling'subscriber.

10. In an automatic telephone system,

subscribers lines, automatic switches for essaid controlling devices with a connecting circuit used in establishing said connection.

11. -In atelephone exchange system, regular subscribers lines and private branch exchange lines, toll devices associated wlth each of said lines respectively, connecting circuits and switches for extending a talking connection from one of said lines to another, controlling means for selectively governing the operation of the toll device of calling lines irrespective of whether said lines are regular lines or private branch exchange lines, andvmeans for automatically associating a controlling device with a connecting circuit used in establishing said connection.

12. In a telephone exchange system,- a calling subscribers line, other subscribers lines of different characters, connecting circuits' and switches for establishing a connection from said calling line to .any of said other lines, atoll device associated with said calling line, means common to a group of connecting circuits for operating said toll device when a connection is established from said calling line to another line of one character, and means for preventing the operation of said toll device when a connection is established to aline of another character.

. 13. In atelephone exchange system, a calling subscrib'ers line, other subscribers lines of different characters, connecting cirrants and swltches for establishing a, connection from said' calling line to any of said other lines, a toll device associated with said calling line, a controlling device for governing the operations of saidvtoll device, means for associating said controlling deused in establishing said connection, means whereby 'sald controlling device Wlll cause the operatlon of the toll device when a connection is established from said calling line to another line of a certain character, and means forpreienting said controlling means vice with any connecting circuit of a group from causingthe operation of said toll device when a connection is extended to a line of a difi'erent character.

14. In a telephone exchange system, calling subscribers lines, other subscribers lines of different characters, connecting circuits and switches for establishing connections from said calling lines to said other lines, message registers associated with said calling lines respectively, a register controlling device, means for joining said controlling device to any completed connection in order to control the operation of the message register of the calling line, means whereby said controlling device will cause the operation of the message register of the calling line when a call is extended to a line of one character, and means whereby it will be prevented from causing such operation when a connection is extended to a line of a differ ent character.

15. In a telephone exchange system, calling subscribers lines, other subscribers lines of difl'erent characters, connecting circuits and switches for establishing connections from said calling lines-to said other lines, message registers associated with said call-' ing lines respectively, register controlling devices,,any one of which may be used to control the operation of the message register of the calling line, and means whereby said controlling device will cause the operation of said messageregister'when a connection is extended to a line of one character and for preventing said controlling device from causing the operation of the message register when a connection is extended to a line of a different character.

of diiferent character's, connecting circuits and switches for establishing a connection from said calling line to any of said other lines, a message register associated with said calling line,.a controllin device for'governing the operation of saici message register, a

finder switch for associating said controlling device with the calling line to cause the operationof said message register when a connection is established from said calling line to another line of one'character, and means of. different characters, connecting circuits and switches for establishing connection from said calling line to any of said other lin a toll device associated with said calling ine, means for associating said con trolling means with any connecting circuit of agroup used in establishing sald conneclines of different characters, connecting circuits and switches for establishing a connection from any of said calling lines to any of said other lines, toll devices associated with i said callin lines respectively means common to the ines of the exchanges for operating the toll device of any callin line when Q a connection is established there rom to another line of one character, and means for preventing the operation of said toll device when the connection is established to a line of a different character. v

19; In a telephone exchange system, calling subscribers lines, other subscribers lines of different, characters connecting circuits and switches for establishing connections from said calling lines to said other lines, message registers associated with said calling lines respectively, a register controlling device, a con'nectin circuit finder-switch for joining said contro ling deviceto completed connection in order to cause the operation of the message register of the calling line when a call'ls extended to a line of one character, and means forpreventing the operation of said finder switch when a connection is extended to aline 'of a different character.

20. In a telephoneexchange system, calling subscribers lines, other subscribers lines of different characters, connecting circuits and switches for establishing connections from said calling lines to said other lines, message registers associated with said calling lines respectively, register controlling devices, finder switches for said controlling devices respectively, for associating an idle one of said devices with a completed connection in order to cause the operation of the message register of the calling line, when a connection is extended to a line of one character and for preventingoperation of a finder switch when a connection is extended to a line of a different character.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe ALBEN E. LUNDELL; 

